Direction-indicating compass



Oct. 25, 1960 w. M. WEBB 2,957,250

DIRECTION-INDICATING COMPASS Filed 001,. 26, 1959 INVENTOR WJW. W555 BY %i ATTORNEY United States Patent DIRECTION-INDICATING COMPASS William M. Webb, Tyler, Tex. (2249 Grand Blvd., Schenectady 9, N.Y.)

Filed Oct. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 848,852

Claims. (Cl. 33-222) This invention relates to a direction-indicating compass of extremely simple construction which may be very economically manufactured and which may be so constructed that it can be conveniently carried in a Wallet or purse or in a garment pocket and will occupy approximately the same amount of space as an identification or business card.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compass which may be of one piece construction and substantially flat and which, in use, may be conveniently suspended from an upwardly facing supporting surface, as for example, a horizontally extended finger of the user, to enable the compass to turn on such a support about a substantially vertical axis, so that an end of the compass will assume a position pointing toward magnetic north.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawing, illustrating a presently preferred embodiment thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in isometric projection, illustrating the compass in an operative position;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the compass, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the direction-indicating compass in its entirety is designated generally 5 and in its preferred embodiment, as illustrated, is formed from a single stamped strip of ferromagnetic sheet material. One end of the strip forming the compass 5 is tapered in width and turned upwardly and back upon itself to form a hook shaped hanger 6 which is substantially C-shaped and which terminates at its distal end in a downwardly directed point 7. The other end of the strip forming the compass 5 is preferably of substantial width and is preferably shaped to form a wide direction-indicating pointer 8. Said strip tapers in width from the pointer or head 8 toward the hanger 6. The strip forming the compass 5 is preferably magnetized in a direction so that the head or pointer 8 constitutes the north pole and the other end of the strip, defining the point 7, may constitute the south pole of the compass magnet.

It will thus be readily apparent that the pivot point 7 is located directly above a part of the compass which is spaced from the north pole, located at the head or pointer 8. Accordingly, the pivot point 7 is horizontally displaced from one of the poles of the compass 5. It will also be apparent that the pivot point 7 is disposed substantially in vertical alignment with the center of gravity of the compass 5. As illustrated by the drawing, all parts of the strip from which the compass 5 is formed are preferably disposed coplanar.

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that the pivot point 7 may be positioned to rest upon the upper surface of an extended finger 9, as seen in Figure l, and when so disposed the compass 5 will be suspended to rotate relative to the finger 9 about the downwardly directed pivot point 7 as an axis, and will turn relative 2,957,250 Patented Oct. 25, 1960 to the finger until the pointer or head 8 is directed toward magnetic north. The throat 10 of the hanger 6 is made sufficiently large to provide ample clearance for the tip of the finger when the compass is supported thereby and so that only the pivot point 7 will contact the finger. It will also be apparent that the finger 9 may be turned so as not to obstruct turning movement of the compass in order that the head 8 can assume a position pointing to the north.

It will be readily obvious that the downwardly directed pivot point 7 may rest on and turn relative to various other upwardly facing substantially horizontal supporting surfaces since the horizontally extended finger tip 9 merely illustrates one convenient support for the compass 5.

Various modifications and changes in connection with details of construction of the compass are likewise contemplated and may be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter defined by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A direction-indicating compass comprising an elongated element and a hanger having one end connected to and extending upwardly from adjacent one end of said element and having an opposite end defining a pivot point disposed directly above and spaced from a part of said element, at least a portion of said compass constituting a magnet having horizontally displaced north and south poles, said pivot point being longitudinally offset relative to said first mentioned end of the hanger, being directed downwardly substantially toward the center of gravity of the compass and being adapted to rest on a horizontal support for suspending the compass for rotation about said point as an axis.

2. A direction-indicating compass comprising an elongated substantially horizontal element and a hook-shaped member forming a hanger, at least a portion of said compass constituting a magnet having horizontally displaced north and south poles, said hanger being connected to and extending from a part of said element and having a downturned distal end defining a pivot point disposed directly above and spaced from a part of the element, said pivot point being adapted to rest on a support for suspending the compass for rotation about said point as an axis.

3. A direction-indicating compass comprising an element constituting a magnet having horizontally displaced north and south poles and including an upwardly turned back part terminating in a downwardly directed point, said point being horizontally displaced from one of said poles, being located substantially in alignment with the center of gravity of the compass and defining a pivot point adapted to rest on an upwardly facing supporting surface for suspending the compass for rotation about said point as an axis.

4. A direction-indicating compass as in claim 3, wherein the compass parts are disposed substantially coplanar.

5. A direction-indicating compass comprising a body, at least a portion of said body constituting a magnet having horizontally displaced north and south poles, said body having a downwardly directed part defining a pivot point disposed directly above and spaced from another part of the body which is located at the center of gravity of the compass, said pivot point being adapted to rest upon an upwardly facing supporting surface to mount the compass for rotation about said pivot point as a vertical axis.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

